Media Contact: 
Mike Snyder, (202) 418-0997
michael.snyder@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
FCC PROPOSES ACTION, SEEKS INPUT TO ADDRESS ROBOCALLS 
TO REASSIGNED PHONE NUMBERS
The Commission Takes Aim at Reducing Calls that Plague Consumers & Callers 
  -- 
WASHINGTON, March 22, 2018—The Federal Communications Commission today adopted 
a proposal to move forward in an effort to reduce calls placed by businesses and other 
legitimate callers to numbers that are no longer assigned to the consumers who consented to 
receive those calls.  The Commission is proposing that one or more databases be made 
available to give businesses the information they need to avoid making such calls, and thus 
reduce the number of unwanted calls to reassigned numbers.
When a phone number is reassigned to a new consumer, that person may receive calls intended 
for a consumer who had that number previously.  These calls often annoy the consumers who 
receive them and waste the time and effort of the callers, while subjecting them to potential 
liability. 
The Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted today proposes and seeks 
comment on ways to address this reassigned numbers problem.  Specifically, the Further 
Notice: 
? Proposes to ensure that one or more databases are available to provide callers with the 
comprehensive and timely information they need to avoid calling reassigned numbers. 
? Seeks comment on the information that callers who choose to use a reassigned 
numbers database need to avoid calling a reassigned number. 
? Seeks feedback on three alternative ideas for service providers to report that 
information: (1) requiring service providers to report reassigned number information to 
a single, FCC-designated database; (2) requiring service providers to report that 
information to one or more commercial data aggregators; or (3) allowing service 
providers to report that information to commercial data aggregators on a voluntary 
basis. 
? Seeks comment on whether and, if so, how the Commission should adopt a safe harbor 
from liability under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act for those callers that 
choose to use a reassigned numbers database.
Today’s action is the latest step taken by the FCC in its ongoing efforts to combat illegal 
robocalls.  The Commission recently adopted new rules allowing phone companies to 
proactively block calls that are likely to be fraudulent, such as those purporting to be from area 
codes that do not exist.  The FCC also began exploring ways to set up a reliable system to 
verify that a phone call is actually from the name or phone number appearing on the recipient’s 
caller ID.
 The FCC is also partnering with the Federal Trade Commission for two upcoming events 
aimed at furthering the fight against illegal robocalls and caller ID spoofing.  The agencies are 
co-hosting a policy forum tomorrow, March 23, 2018, and a technology expo on April 23, 
2018.  
Action by the Commission March 22, 2018 by Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(FCC 18-31). Chairman Pai, Commissioners Clyburn, O’Rielly, and Carr approving.  
Commissioner Rosenworcel approving in part and dissenting in part. Chairman Pai, 
Commissioners Clyburn, O’Rielly, Carr and Rosenworcel issuing separate statements.
CG Docket No. 17-59
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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order 
constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).